I have trained a lot of dogs over the years for a lot of different things even field trialed a couple, some dogs turned out OK, some not, a few turned out great. Have had hunting dogs all my life, I still consider myself a novice but do know what works for me.
Every dog is different, some pick stuff up quick some never do and the rare ones teach you.
I’m not into giving a dog treats for doing what they should be doing anyway, the reward should be my praise, you cannot praise a dog to much while training for doing something right...over exaggerate it. I disagree with squeaky toys making a dog hard mouth. Some dogs just are some aren’t, dogs love squeaky toys let them have them. You can sometimes get a dog to soften up some with force fetching and telling them “easy” over and over till they kind of get what you’re saying. The more time you spend with your dog the stronger the bond, dogs have a short vocabulary for people speak use the same commands every time don’t deviate.
wango tango, if your dog is dropping short start backing up and calling to her while holding your hand out and saying “here, here, here” as she is coming to you just keep backing up faster until she is on you then take the object from her mouth fast and praise the hell out of her. Do it over and over until she gets it. Repetition is the key your not going to work a grown dog to much…do it for days until she does what you want. Have her practice sitting just holding a shed in her mouth, when you remove it make over her for doing a good job. Dogs can read body language as good as they can smell…if/when you start getting frustrated or mad stop….you have to keep it fun for both of you. All of the sudden it will click and come together if your dog has any sense.
trampledbyturtles, I wouldn’t let her eat dead birds or old wings, the playing with live birds and blood isn’t anything that would hurt her retrieving sessions with you.
Stop using dummies altogether for now. Start using frozen birds only…she will get it, when she does good on frozen switch to fresh birds until she does what you want. She is going to want to retrieve and play with and make you happy. After the light goes on in her head and she is retrieving real bids like she should you can go back to throwing dummies and she will be fine with either.
Just my two cents…….